Ballet Austin’s annual Fête and the notorious fête*ish open the Company’s performance season and Austin’s gala line-up, with an elegant experience of fine dining, dancing and decadence. The gala, hailed by the Austin American-Statesman as Austin’s “best black tie” event, will also feature performances by cabaret jazz artist Mandy Lauderdale and Austin’s always entertaining and outrageous The Invincible Czars.

The event gathers business leaders, social mavens and arts patrons of all ages to mix, mingle, dine and dance, and to raise funds for Ballet Austin’s community education programs, which serve more than 57,000 Central Texans each year.

Ballet Austin chose The Driskill Hotel to commemorate this milestone year, the golden anniversary of Austin’s favorite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker. Marking a significant milestone for The Driskill as well, the iconic hotel this year is celebrating its Victorian-era opening 125 years ago.

Headlining the event is DJ Spinderella from Salt-N-Pepa. The Grammy award-winning DJ, producer, rapper, writer and mother is one of the original pioneers of hip hop music. As a member of Salt-N-Pepa, she sold over 15 million albums and singles worldwide.

More than two decades after her groundbreaking entrance into hip hop, the Brooklyn native still sets the standard for “turntablisits” all over the world. “I’ve been blessed to be in the game for so many years, when many others have come and gone,” says Spinderella.

With a limited 220 seats available, guests will enjoy Nutcracker-inspired custom cocktails and a signature multi-course themed cuisine by The Driskill Hotel, as well as live entertainment and exclusive access to the VIP Ballet Barre & lounge filled with dreamy sweets, worldly treats and glistening surprises at fête*ish.

"The extravagant black tie gala keeps the nonprofit's mission in mind as the fundraiser travels through The Nutcracker with an exclusive seated dinner and then on to the larger and notorious fête*ish. This year's fête*ish will involve all senses with themed bites, cocktails, performances and decor. This one-of-a-kind night stands out from all others for Austin's top philanthropists as it continues to push the limits.”

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, and at 8 p.m., fête*ish turns up the volume and turns down the lights with exquisite morsels, libations, and dancing ignited by Spinderella, Mandy Lauderdale and The Invincible Czars. With lavishly sweet surprises around every corner, fête*ish holds its guests captivated until the clock strikes midnight.

A few tickets are still available for Friday's soiree. Visit the Ballet Austin website, or call 512-476-2163 for more information.